Surgical forceps

ABSTRACT

A forceps includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members disposed in parallel orientation relative to one another. One or both of the jaw members is movable along a first axis relative to the other jaw member between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. The first and second jaw members are configured to maintain the parallel orientation therebetween upon movement of the jaw members between the spaced-apart and approximated positions. A drive bar is coupled to one or both of the jaw members. The drive bar is selectively movable along a second axis that is different from the first axis between first and second positions for moving the jaw members between the spaced-apart and approximated positions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/711,079, filed on Oct. 8, 2012, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to surgical instruments and, moreparticularly, to surgical forceps for grasping, treating, and/ordividing tissue.

2. Background of Related Art

A surgical forceps is a plier-like instrument which relies on mechanicalaction between its jaw members to grasp, clamp, and constrict tissue.Energy-based surgical forceps utilize both mechanical clamping actionand energy, e.g., RF energy, ultrasonic energy, microwave energy,thermal energy, light energy, etc., to affect hemostasis by heatingtissue and blood vessels to coagulate and/or cauterize tissue. Certainsurgical procedures require more than simply coagulating/cauterizingtissue and rely on the unique combination of clamping pressure, preciseenergy control, and gap distance (i.e., the distance between opposingjaw members when closed about tissue) to “seal” tissue.

Typically, once tissue is treated, e.g., sealed, the surgeon has toaccurately sever the tissue along the newly formed tissue seal.Accordingly, many surgical forceps have been designed which incorporatea knife or blade member that effectively severs the tissue after forminga tissue seal.

SUMMARY

As used herein, the term “distal” refers to that portion that is furtherfrom an operator while the term “proximal” refers to that portion thatis closer to an operator. As used herein, the term “treat” refers toperforming a surgical treatment to tissue using energy. The term“energy” refers broadly to include all types of energy used to treattissue, e.g., RF energy, ultrasonic energy, microwave energy, thermalenergy, light energy, etc. Further, any or all of the aspects describedherein, to the extent they are consistent, may be used in conjunctionwith any of the other aspects described herein.

In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, a forceps isprovided including an end effector assembly having first and second jawmembers disposed in parallel orientation relative to one another. One(or both) of the jaw member is movable along a first axis relative tothe other jaw member between a spaced-apart position and an approximatedposition for grasping tissue therebetween. The first and second jawmembers are configured to maintain the parallel orientation therebetweenupon movement of the jaw members between the spaced-apart andapproximated positions. A drive bar is coupled to one or both of the jawmembers. The drive bar is selectively movable along a second axis thatis different from the first axis between first and second positions formoving the jaw members between the spaced-apart and approximatedpositions.

In one aspect, the first and second axes are perpendicular to oneanother such that the jaw members are movable in a perpendiculardirection relative to the drive bar.

In another aspect, the first and second jaw members are coupled to anouter shaft. In such an aspect, the drive bar is selectively movablealong the second axis relative to the outer shaft.

In another aspect, the drive bar defines at least one cam slot having afirst portion and a second portion. The first portion of the cam slotdefines a longitudinal configuration and the second portion of the camslot extends in a generally diagonal direction relative to the firstportion. The first portion of the cam slot is configured to slidablyreceive a pin of the outer shaft and the second portion of the cam slotis configured to slidably receive a pin of one (or each) of the jawmembers such that translation of the drive bar along the second axiseffects movement of one or both jaw members along the first axis.

In still another aspect, one or both of the jaw members is configuredfor slidable inter-fit engagement with the outer shaft to restrictmovement of the jaw members to along the first axis, thereby maintainingthe parallel orientation between the jaw members upon movement of thejaw members between the spaced-apart and approximated positions.

In yet another aspect, the outer shaft and one (or both) of the jawmembers each include a T-shaped flange. The T-shaped flanges areconfigured for slidable inter-fit engagement with one another.

In still yet another aspect, the first and second jaw members areconfigured for slidable inter-fit engagement with one another torestrict movement of the jaw members to along the first axis, therebymaintaining the parallel orientation between the jaw members uponmovement of the jaw members between the spaced-apart and approximatedpositions.

In another aspect, one of the jaw members includes an alignment pillarand the other jaw member includes an alignment slot. The alignmentpillars and alignment slots are configured for slidable inter-fitengagement with one another to inhibit relative movement of the jawmembers off of the first axis.

In yet another aspect, one (or both) of the jaw members are configuredfor slidable inter-fit engagement with the drive bar to restrictmovement of the jaw members to along the first axis, thereby maintainingthe parallel orientation between the jaw members upon movement of thejaw members between the spaced-apart and approximated positions.

In another aspect, the first and second jaw members are slidablediagonally along the first axis and the drive bar is selectivelytranslatable longitudinally along the second axis.

Another forceps provided in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure includes an end effector assembly having first and second jawmembers. The first and second jaw members are disposed in parallelorientation relative to one another. One (or both) of the jaw members ismovable relative to the other along a first axis between a spaced-apartposition and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween.The first and second jaw members are disposed in slidable inter-fitengagement with one another to maintain the parallel orientation betweenthe jaw members upon movement of the jaw members between thespaced-apart and approximated positions.

In one aspect, one (or both) of the jaw members includes an alignmentpillar. The other jaw member includes an alignment slot defined therein.The alignment pillar and alignment slot are configured for slidableinter-fit engagement with one another to inhibit relative movement ofthe jaw members off of the first axis.

In another aspect, the alignment pillar and the alignment slot definecomplementary keying features.

In still another aspect, a drive bar is provided. The drive bar iscoupled to one (or both) of the jaw members and is selectively movablealong a second axis different from the first axis for moving the jawmembers between the spaced-apart and approximated positions.

In yet another aspect, the first and second axes are perpendicular toone another such that the jaw members are movable in a perpendiculardirection relative to the drive bar.

Provided in accordance with other aspects of the present disclosure isanother forceps including an end effector assembly having first andsecond jaw members. The first and second jaw members are disposed inparallel orientation relative to one another. One (or both) of the jawmembers is movable along a first axis relative to the other jaw memberbetween a spaced-apart position and an approximated position forgrasping tissue therebetween. A drive bar is coupled to one (or both) ofthe jaw members. The drive bar is selectively movable along a secondaxis different from the first axis between first and second positionsfor moving the jaw members between the spaced-apart and approximatedpositions. The drive bar and one (or both) of the jaw members aredisposed in inter-fit engagement with one another to maintain theparallel orientation between the jaw members upon movement of the jawmembers between the spaced-apart and approximated positions.

In one aspect, the drive bar includes a distal engagement portionincluding one or more cut-outs. In such an aspect, one (or both) of thejaw members includes a proximal flange portion. The proximal flangeportion(s) of the jaw member(s) is configured for slidable inter-fitengagement with the cut-out(s) of the distal engagement portion of thedrive bar to maintain the parallel orientation between the jaw membersupon movement of the jaw members between the spaced-apart andapproximated positions.

In another aspect, the proximal flange portion(s) of the jaw member(s)is slidable relative to the cut-out(s) of the distal engagement portionof the drive bar along the first axis. Alternatively, the proximalflange portion(s) of the jaw member(s) may be slidable relative to thecut-out(s) of the distal engagement portion of the drive bar along athird axis that is diagonal to both the first and second axes.

In still another aspect, the first and second jaw members are coupled toan outer shaft. The drive bar, in such an aspect, is selectively movablerelative to the outer shaft along the second axis.

In another aspect, the outer shaft defines one or more cam slotsconfigured to slidably receive a pin of one (or both) of the jawmembers. According to this configuration, translation of the drive baralong the second axis effects movement of the jaw members relative toone another along the first axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of the present disclosure are described herein withreference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identifysimilar or identical elements:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscopic surgical forcepsconfigured for use in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of a distal end of the forcepsof FIG. 1 including an end effector assembly coupled thereto andconfigured for use therewith;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, perspective view of a proximal end of the forcepsof FIG. 1 wherein a portion of the housing has been removed to show theinternal components thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the end effector assembly of FIG. 2 shown withparts separated;

FIG. 5A is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the end effectorassembly of FIG. 2 wherein jaw members of the end effector assembly aredisposed in a spaced-apart position;

FIG. 5B is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the end effectorassembly of FIG. 2 wherein the jaw members are disposed in anapproximated position;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the distal end of the forceps of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another end effector assembly configuredfor use with the forceps of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another end effector assembly configuredfor use with the forceps of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9A is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the end effectorassembly of FIG. 8 wherein the jaw members are disposed in thespaced-apart position;

FIG. 9B is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the end effectorassembly of FIG. 8 wherein the jaw members are disposed in theapproximated position;

FIG. 10A is a side perspective view of another end effector assemblyconfigured for use with the forceps of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10B is an opposite side perspective view of the end effectorassembly of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11A is a top view of a distal end of a drive bar configured for usewith the end effector assembly of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11B is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken along section line11B-11B of FIG. 11A;

FIG. 12A is a side perspective view of a jaw member of the end effectorassembly of FIG. 11A;

FIG. 12B is a side perspective view of the other jaw member of the endeffector assembly of FIG. 11A;

FIG. 13 is a side perspective view of another end effector assemblyconfigured for use with the forceps of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14A is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a first side of adistal end of a drive bar configured for use with the end effectorassembly of FIG. 13;

FIG. 14B is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a second, oppositeside of the distal end of the drive bar of FIG. 14A;

FIG. 15 is a side view of a jaw member of the end effector assembly ofFIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a knife assembly configured for usewith the forceps of FIG. 1;

FIG. 17A is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the end effectorassembly of FIG. 2 shown including a knife disposed in a retractedposition; and

FIG. 17B is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the end effectorassembly of FIG. 2 shown including the knife disposed in an extendedposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an endoscopic surgical forceps provided inaccordance with the present disclosure is shown generally identified byreference numeral 10. Although shown configured for use in endoscopicsurgical procedures, forceps 10 may alternatively be configured for usein connection with traditional open surgical procedures. That is, forthe purposes herein, either an endoscopic instrument, e.g., forceps 10,or an open instrument may be utilized in accordance with the presentdisclosure. Obviously, different connections and considerations apply toeach particular type of instrument; however, the novel aspects withrespect to the end effector assembly and its operating characteristicsremain generally consistent with respect to both the open and endoscopicconfigurations.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-3, forceps 10 defines a longitudinalaxis “X-X” and generally includes a housing 20, a handle assembly 30, arotating assembly 70, a trigger assembly 80, and an end effectorassembly 100. Forceps 10 further includes a shaft 12 having a distal end14 configured to engage end effector assembly 100 and a proximal end 16that engages housing 20. Forceps 10 also includes a cable 610 thatconnects forceps 10 to a generator (not shown) or other suitable powersource, although forceps 10 may alternatively be configured as ahandheld instrument having a portable battery (not shown) and generator(not shown) disposed within housing 20.

Handle assembly 30 includes a fixed handle 50 and a movable handle 40.Fixed handle 50 is integrally associated with housing 20 and movablehandle 40 is movable relative to fixed handle 50, as will be explainedin greater detail below, to impart movement of jaw members 110, 120 ofend effector assembly 100 between a spaced-apart position (FIG. 5A) andan approximated position (FIG. 5B) to grasp tissue therebetween.Rotating assembly 70 is operatively associated with housing 20 and isrotatable about longitudinal axis “X-X” to rotate end effector assembly100 about longitudinal axis “X-X.” Trigger assembly 80, as will bedescribed in greater detail below, is selectively actuatable to deploy aknife 184 (FIGS. 16-17B) between jaw members 110, 120 to cut tissuegrasped therebetween.

Referring still to FIGS. 1-3, end effector assembly 100 is coupled to adistal end 14 of shaft 12 and includes a pair of jaw members 110, 120.End effector assembly 100 is designed as a unilateral assembly, i.e.,where jaw member 120 is fixed relative to shaft 12 and jaw member 110 ismovable relative to shaft 12 and fixed jaw member 120. However, endeffector assembly 100 may alternatively be configured as a bilateralassembly, i.e., where both jaw members 110, 120 are movable relative toone another and to shaft 12.

Each of the jaw members 110, 120 of end effector assembly 100 defines arespective tissue-treating surface 112, 122 (FIG. 2), which may be inthe form of a conductive plate disposed atop an otherwise insulative jawmember. Either or both of tissue-treating surfaces 112, 122 are adaptedto connect to a source of energy, e.g., a generator (not shown), totransmit energy between tissue-treating surfaces 112, 122 and throughtissue grasped between jaw members 110, 120 to treat, e.g., seal,tissue. More specifically, a wire (or wires) (not shown) may extend fromcable 610 (FIG. 1), through housing 20 and shaft 12, ultimatelyconnecting to one or both of tissue-treating surfaces 112, 122 forsupplying energy thereto, although other configurations are alsocontemplated. Either or both tissue-treating surfaces 112, 122 of jawmembers 110, 120, respectively, may further define alongitudinally-oriented knife channel 115, 125, respectively, that isconfigured to facilitate and guide the extension of knife 184 (FIGS.16-17B) between jaw members 110, 120 to cut tissue grasped therebetween,as will be described in greater detail below.

Referring to FIG. 2, end effector assembly 100 is configured tofacilitate parallel closure of jaw members 110, 120 about tissue and,thus, to help promote effective and uniform treatment of tissue. Withrespect to tissue sealing in particular, clamping pressure, e.g., thepressure applied by the jaw members to tissue grasped therebetween, andgap distance, e.g., the distance between the jaw members when graspingtissue therebetween, are factors in achieving an effective tissue seal.Typically, the desired closure pressure is within the range of about 3kg/cm² to about 16 kg/cm², while the desired gap distance is within therange of about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches. Parallel jaw closurefacilitates the formation of an effective tissue seal across the entirearea of tissue to be sealed by maintaining a uniform gap distancebetween the jaw members and a uniform closure pressure applied totissue. The specific features and configuration of end effector assembly100 that promote parallel jaw closure will be described in greaterdetail below. Various other embodiments of end effector assembliessimilar to end effector assembly 100 and also configured for paralleljaw closure will likewise be described in detail in turn below.

With reference again to FIG. 1, in conjunction with FIG. 2, movablehandle 40 of handle assembly 30 is ultimately connected to a driveassembly 60 (FIG. 3) that, together, mechanically cooperate to impartmovement of jaw members 110 and 120 between a spaced-apart position andan approximated position to grasp tissue between tissue-treatingsurfaces 112, 122 of jaw members 110, 120, respectively. A ratchetassembly 55 may also be included for selectively locking jaw members110, 120 relative to one another at various positions during pivoting,e.g., for selectively locking jaw members 110, 120 in one or moreapproximated positions.

As best shown in FIG. 3, movable handle 40 defines a grasping portion 42including a finger hole 43 to facilitate grasping and manipulation bythe user, and a bifurcated upper portion 44 that extends upwardly intohousing 20. Bifurcated upper portion 44 includes first and secondflanges 45 a, 45 b that extend about and are engaged to a mandrel 62 ofdrive assembly 60 on either side thereof. Flanges 45 a, 45 b arepivotably coupled to housing 20 via a pivot pin 47 that is disposedbelow drive bar 64 of drive assembly 60. Mandrel 62, in turn, is engagedabout drive bar 64 such that, upon pivoting of movable handle 40 from aninitial position, wherein movable handle 40 is spaced-apart from fixedhandle 50, to a compressed position, wherein movable handle 40 isdisposed in close proximity to fixed handle 50, drive bar 64 is urgeddistally through shaft 12 and relative to end effector assembly 100(FIG. 2) to move jaw members 110, 120 (FIG. 2) from the spaced-apartposition to the approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween.Alternatively, pivot pin 47 may be positioned above drive bar 64 suchthat drive bar 64 is pulled proximally through shaft 12 and relative toend effector assembly 100 (FIG. 2) upon pivoting of movable handle 40from the initial position to the actuated position. In such aconfiguration, drive bar 64 and end effector assembly 100 (FIG. 2) areconfigured such that proximal translation of drive bar 64 relative toend effector assembly 100 (FIG. 2) effects movement of jaw members 110,120 (FIG. 2) from the spaced-apart position to the approximated positionto grasp tissue therebetween. A spring 65 engaged between housing 20 andthe proximal end of mandrel 62 is provided to bias mandrel 62proximally, thereby biasing movable handle 40 towards the initialposition and jaw members 110, 120 (FIG. 2) towards the spaced-apartposition.

Referring momentarily to FIGS. 16-17B, as mentioned above, forceps 10may include a knife assembly 180 including a knife bar 182 extendingthrough shaft 12 and a knife 184 coupled to knife bar 182 at the distalend thereof. Knife 184 is initially disposed within the knife channel ofone of the jaw members, e.g., knife channel 125 of jaw member 120. Aswill be described in greater detail below, upon actuation, e.g., uponactuation of trigger 82 of trigger assembly 80, knife bar 182 istranslated through shaft 12 and relative to jaw member 120 such thatknife 184 is advanced from a retracted position, wherein knife 184 isdisposed completely within knife channel 125 of jaw member 120, to anextended position, wherein knife 184 extends from knife channel 125,between jaw members 110, 120, and at least partially into knife channel115 of jaw member 110 to cut tissue grasped between jaw members 110,120.

With continued reference to FIGS. 16-17B, and with additional referenceto FIGS. 1-3, trigger assembly 80 includes a trigger 82 having a togglemember 83 and a bifurcated arm 86 extending upwardly from toggle member83 and into housing 20. Arm 86 is bifurcated to define first and secondspaced-apart flanges 87 a, 87 b, respectively, to permit passage of arm86 about drive assembly 60. Trigger 82 is pivotably coupled to housing20 via pivot pin 85, which extends through the upper, free ends offlanges 87 a, 87 b above drive bar 64 of drive assembly 60. A second pin88 extends between flanges 87 a, 87 b to couple trigger 82 to ferrule89. Ferrule 89 is slidably disposed about drive bar 64 and is pinned (orotherwise engaged to) knife bar 182 through a longitudinal slot 66defined within drive bar 64. Accordingly, upon pivoting of trigger 82about pivot pin 85 and relative to housing 20 from an un-actuatedposition to an actuated position, flanges 87 a, 87 b urge ferrule 89and, thus, knife bar 182 proximally such that knife 184 is moved fromthe retracted position (FIG. 17A) to the extended position (FIG. 17B) tocut tissue grasped between jaw members 110, 120. On the other hand,return of trigger 82 towards the un-actuated position rotates flanges 87a, 87 b to urge knife bar 182 distally to thereby move knife 184 back tothe retracted position within jaw member 120. A spring 185, which isdisposed about drive bar 64 and is engaged between ferrule 89 and thedistal end of housing 20 biases ferrule 89 distally, thereby biasingtrigger 82 towards the un-actuated position and knife 184 towards theretracted position.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 4-6, as mentioned above, end effectorassembly 100 is configured for use with forceps 10, although endeffector assembly 100 may alternatively be configured for use with anyother suitable surgical instrument including a longitudinallytranslatable drive bar for moving jaw members 110, 120 relative to oneanother between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position forgrasping tissue therebetween. End effector assembly 100 is configured tofacilitate parallel closure of jaw members 110, 120 about tissue and,thus, to promote effective and uniform treatment of tissue.

Referring additionally to FIG. 3, drive bar 64 of drive assembly 60, asmentioned above, is selectively translatable through shaft 12, e.g., viaactuation of movable handle 40, to move jaw members 110, 120 between thespaced-apart position and the approximated position. In particular,drive bar 64 defines a longitudinally-extending cam slot 67 therethroughtowards the distal end thereof that is configured to receive first andsecond pins 19, 119 of end effector assembly 100 such that distaltranslation of drive bar 64 relative to pins 19, 119 of end effectorassembly 100 urges jaw members 110, 120 to move from the spaced-apartposition to the approximated position. Cam slot 67 defines a generallylongitudinal portion 68 having distal and proximal ends 68 a, 68 b,respectively, and a curved portion 69 that curves vertically upwardlyfrom the longitudinal portion 68. Curved portion 69 includes a first(upper, distal) end 69 a and a second (lower, proximal) end 69 b.However, in embodiments where drive assembly 60 is configured totranslate drive bar 64 proximally upon actuation of movable handle 40,cam slot 67 is alternatively configured such that the curved portion 69of cam slot 67 is curved vertically downwardly from the longitudinalportion 68 thereof to achieve the same result, e.g., to move jaw members110, 120 to the approximated position upon proximal translation of drivebar 64. Further, although a single cam slot 67 including bothlongitudinal and curved portions 68, 69, respectively, is shown, drivebar 64 may alternatively be configured to include two separate slots: alongitudinal slot and an upwardly curved slot. The curved portion 69 ofcam slot 67 (or the curved slot) may also define an angledconfiguration, rather than a curved configuration.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2 and 4-6, shaft 12 defines a lumen 18extending longitudinally therethrough that is configured to permitreciprocation of drive bar 64 therethrough. Shaft 12 further includes afirst pin 19 fixedly engaged thereto and extending transversely throughlumen 18 at the distal end 14 of shaft 12. First pin 19 is configured tobe received within longitudinal portion 68 of cam slot 67 defined withindrive bar 64 and is longitudinally translatable through cam slot 67between the distal and proximal ends 68 a, 68 b, respectively, oflongitudinal portion 68 of cam slot 67 to permit translation of drivebar 64 through shaft 12.

One of the jaw members, e.g., jaw member 120, is fixedly engaged to,e.g., monolithically formed with, shaft 12 and extends distallytherefrom. Jaw member 120 defines a proximal flange portion 126 that isengaged to shaft 12, and a distal jaw portion 121 that defines thetissue-treating surface 122 of jaw member 120. Distal jaw portion 121 ofjaw member 120 further includes a pair of alignment pillars 123extending from either side thereof in generally perpendicularorientation relative to tissue-treating surface 122. The other jawmember, e.g., jaw member 110, similarly includes a proximal flangeportion 116 and a distal jaw portion 111 that defines thetissue-treating surface 112 of jaw member 110. Distal jaw portion 111 ofjaw member 110 further includes a pair of alignment slots 113 definetherein on each side thereof that extend in generally perpendicularorientation relative to tissue-treating surface 112. Alignment slots 113are shaped complementary to and are configured to receive alignmentpillars 123 of jaw member 120 in inter-fit engagement therewith tomaintain the alignment of and parallel orientation between jaw members110, 120 regardless of the relative position of jaw members 110, 120,e.g., regardless of whether jaw members 110, 120 are disposed in thespaced-apart position, the approximated position, or any positiontherebetween.

As best shown in FIG. 6, alignment pillars 123 may include a pluralityof protrusions 128 extending outwardly therefrom and alignment slots 113may define a plurality of recesses 118 configured to receive protrusions128 to further facilitate and maintain the alignment between andparallel orientation of jaw members 110, 120 relative to one another.That is, protrusions 128 and recesses 118 of pillars 123 and slots 113,respectively, establish a “keying” feature between jaw members 110, 120that helps to ensure alignment and inhibit tilting of jaw members 110,120 relative to one another. Other “keyed” configurations are alsocontemplated. Further, the configuration of pillars 123 and alignmentslots 113 may be reversed, e.g., wherein the pillars extend from jawmember 110 and the slots are defined within jaw member 120, or each jawmember 110, 120 may include one pillar 123 and one alignment slot 113.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 4-6, proximal flange portion 116 of jawmember 110 is bifurcated to define first and second spaced-apart flangecomponents 116 a, 116 b. Second pin 119 is fixedly engaged to andextends transversely between the spaced-apart flange components 116 a,116 b of proximal flange portion 116 of jaw member 110. Second pin 119is configured to be received within curved portion 69 of cam slot 67 ofdrive bar 64 and is vertically translatable relative to drive bar 64 assecond pin 119 is translated through curved portion 69 of cam slot 67between the first and second ends 69 a, 69 b, respectively, thereof, topermit translation of drive bar 64 through and relative to shaft 12.

The use and operation of forceps 10 and end effector assembly 100 forgrasping and treating tissue is described with reference to FIGS. 1-5B.Initially, with jaw members 110, 120 disposed in the spaced-apartposition (FIG. 5A), forceps 10 is manipulated and/or maneuvered intoposition such that tissue to be treated is disposed betweentissue-treating surfaces 112, 122 of jaw members 110, 120, respectively.At this point, movable handle 40 is disposed in the initial positionand, accordingly, drive bar 64 is disposed in a more-proximal positionsuch that jaw members 110, 120 are disposed in the spaced-apartposition. More specifically, in the spaced-apart position, as best shownin FIG. 5A, first pin 19 is disposed at distal end 68 a of longitudinalportion 68 of cam slot 67 of drive bar 64, while second pin 119 isdisposed at first (upper, distal) end 69 a of curved portion 69 of camslot 67. As such, since first and second pins 19, 119 arevertically-spaced from one-another in this position, jaw members 110,120 are likewise vertically-spaced from one another, e.g., in thespaced-apart position. Further, in the spaced-apart position, pillars123 of jaw member 120 are only partially disposed within alignment slots113 of jaw member 110, but are sufficiently disposed therein so as tomaintain the parallel orientation between tissue-treating surfaces 112,122 of jaw members 110, 120, respectively.

In order to grasp tissue between tissue-treating surfaces 112, 122 ofjaw members 110, 120, respectively, movable handle 40 is compressed, orpulled proximally relative to fixed handle 50 from the initial positionto the compressed position to urge drive bar 64 distally. As drive bar64 is translated distally through lumen 18 of shaft 12 and relative toend effector assembly 100, first pin 19 is moved through longitudinalportion 68 of cam slot 67 from the distal end 68 a thereof towards theproximal end 68 b thereof, while second pin 119 is moved through curvedportion 69 of cam slot 67 from the first (upper, distal) end 69 athereof towards the second (lower, proximal) end 69 b thereof. As secondpin 119 is urged vertically downwardly due to the vertically-curvedconfiguration of curved portion 69 of cam slot 67 and the distaltranslation of drive bar 64 relative to second pin 119, jaw member 110is moved vertically downwardly towards jaw member 120, e.g., towards theapproximated position, to grasp tissue therebetween. That is, in theapproximated position, as best shown in FIG. 5B, first pin 19 isdisposed at proximal end 68 b of longitudinal portion 68 of cam slot 67,while second pin 119 is disposed at second (lower, proximal) end 69 b ofcurved portion 69 of cam slot 67 in substantial vertical alignment withfirst pin 19. As such, with first and second pins 19, 119vertically-aligned relative to one another, jaw members 110, 120 aredisposed in close proximity to one another, e.g., in the approximatedposition, grasping tissue therebetween.

With jaw members 110, 120 disposed in the approximated position, pillars123 are substantially disposed within alignment slots 113, with thekeyed relationship therebetween maintaining jaw members 110, 120 inparallel orientation relative to one another. More specifically, thekeyed engagement between pillars 123 and alignment slots 113 of jawmembers 120, 110, respectively, permits movement of jaw member 110relative to jaw member 120 only in the vertical direction, therebymaintaining the parallel orientation of tissue-treating surfaces 112,122 of jaw members 110, 120, respectively.

Continuing with reference to FIGS. 1-5B, with jaw members 110, 120disposed in parallel orientation relative to one another and graspingtissue between tissue-treating surfaces 112, 122, respectively, the gapdistance between tissue-treating surfaces 112, 122 of jaw members 110,120 is uniform along the entire length thereof. Further, the closurepressure applied to tissue (at least where tissue defines a uniformthickness) is also uniform across the entire length of tissue-treatingsurfaces 112, 122. In this approximated position, tissue-treatingsurface 112 and/or tissue-treating surface 122 may be energized, e.g.,via actuation of activation switch 90 (FIG. 1), to transmit energybetween tissue-treating surfaces 112, 122 and through tissue to treat,e.g., seal, tissue. As mentioned above, maintaining a uniform gapdistance and closure pressure facilitates effective and uniform tissuetreatment, e.g., formation of an effective tissue seal.

At the completion of tissue treatment, or where it is desired to onlycut tissue, knife 184 (FIGS. 16-17B) may be moved from the retractedposition to the extended position, e.g., via actuation of trigger 82 oftrigger assembly 80 (FIG. 1), to cut tissue grasped between jaw members110, 120. The use, operation, and particular features of knife assembly180 (FIGS. 16-17B), will be described in detail below. Ultimately,movable handle 40 may be released (or returned) to the initial position,thereby translating drive bar 64 proximally to return jaw members 110,120 back to the spaced-apart position (FIG. 5A) to release the treatedand/or divided tissue.

Turning now to FIG. 7, another embodiment of an end effector assemblysimilar to end effector assembly 100 (FIG. 2) and likewise configured toachieve uniform and parallel jaw closure is shown generally identifiedby reference numeral 200. End effector assembly 200 differs from endeffector assembly 100 (FIG. 2) mainly in that end effector assembly 200defines an asymmetrical configuration while end effector assembly 100(FIG. 2) defines a substantially symmetrical configuration. For purposesof brevity, only the differences between end effector assembly 200 andend effector assembly 100 (FIG. 2) will be described in detail below,while similarities will only be summarily described or omitted entirely.

As mentioned above, end effector assembly 200 defines an asymmetricalconfiguration. More specifically, drive bar 264 extends alongside, e.g.,adjacent to, shaft 202, rather than extending through shaft 202 as inthe configuration of end effector assembly 100 (FIG. 2). Shaft 202 maydefine a cut-out portion (not explicitly shown) that is configured toslidably receive drive bar 264 such that the overall dimensions of endeffector assembly 200 remain the same regardless of whether drive bar264 is disposed alongside shaft 202 or extends through a lumen definedwithin shaft 202.

With continued reference to FIG. 7, similar to end effector assembly 100(FIG. 2) described above, drive bar 264 is selectively translatablerelative to shaft 202 to move jaw members 210, 220 between thespaced-apart and approximated positions. More specifically, drive bar264 defines a cam slot (similar to cam slot 67 of drive bar 64 (see FIG.4)) that includes a longitudinal portion and a curved portion extendingupwardly and distally from the longitudinal portion. The cam slot (notexplicitly shown) is configured to receive first and second pins 209,219 of end effector assembly 200 such that distal translation of drivebar 264 relative to end effector assembly 200 urges jaw members 210, 220to move from the spaced-apart position to the approximated position,similarly as described above with respect to end effector assembly 100(FIG. 2). First pin 209 is fixedly engaged to shaft 202 and extendsoutwardly therefrom towards drive bar 264, e.g., into the cut-outportion thereof. First pin 209 is received within the cam slot definedwithin drive bar 264 and is longitudinally translatable through andrelative to the longitudinal portion of the cam slot to permittranslation of drive bar 264 relative to shaft 202 and jaw members 210,220.

With continued reference to FIG. 7, one of the jaw members, e.g., jawmember 220, is fixedly engaged to shaft 202 and extends distallytherefrom. Jaw member 220 defines an offset proximal flange portion 226that is fixedly engaged to shaft 202 and a distal jaw portion 221defining a tissue-treating surface 222 and including an alignment pillar223 extending from a side thereof in generally perpendicular orientationrelative to tissue-treating surface 222. Proximal flange portion 226 isoffset relative to a longitudinal axis of jaw member 220 to engage shaft202 and to provide clearance for translation of drive bar 264 along andrelative to shaft 202 and proximal flange portion 226 of jaw member 220.Pillar 223 is similarly offset from the longitudinal axis of jaw member220, although other configurations are contemplated.

The other jaw member, e.g., jaw member 210, likewise includes a proximalflange portion 216, and a distal jaw portion 211 defining atissue-treating surface 212. Proximal flange portion 216 of jaw member210 is offset relative to the longitudinal axis of jaw member 210(similarly as proximal flange portion 226 of jaw member 220) and isconfigured for positioning between pillar 223 of jaw member 220 and thedistal end of shaft 202. Second pin 219 extends outwardly from proximalflange portion 216 of jaw member 210 towards drive bar 264 and isconfigured for receipt within the curved portion of the cam slot definedwithin drive bar 264. The offset configuration of proximal flangeportion 216 of jaw member 210 allows drive bar 264 to extend alongsideshaft 202 and proximal flange portions 216, 226 of jaw members 210, 220,respectively, such that first and second pins 209, 219, respectively,may be operably received within the cam slot of drive bar 264.

Distal jaw portion 211 of jaw member 210 further includes an alignmentslot 213 defined therein that is offset relative to the longitudinalaxis thereof. Alignment slot 213 extends in generally perpendicularorientation relative to tissue-treating surface 212 and is alignedwithin and configured to receive alignment pillar 223 of jaw member 220to maintain the parallel orientation between jaw members 210, 220regardless of the relative position of jaw members 210, 220. The use andoperation of end effector assembly 200 is similar to that of endeffector assembly 100 (FIG. 2) described above and, thus, will not berepeated here.

Turning now to FIGS. 8 and 9A-9B, another embodiment of an end effectorassembly similar to end effector assembly 100 (FIG. 2) and configured toachieve uniform and parallel jaw closure is shown generally identifiedby reference numeral 300. End effector assembly 300 differs from endeffector assembly 100 (FIG. 2) mainly in that end effector assembly 300defines a bilateral configuration, wherein both jaw members 310, 320 aremovable relative to one another (in parallel fashion) and shaft 302 tomove end effector assembly 300 between the spaced-apart and approximatedpositions, as opposed to the unilateral configuration of end effectorassembly 100 (FIG. 2). For purposes of brevity, only the differencesbetween end effector assembly 300 and end effector assembly 100 (FIG. 2)will be described in detail below, while similarities will only besummarily described or omitted entirely.

Continuing with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9A-9B, shaft 302 defines abifurcated configuration having first and second spaced-apart shaftcomponents 303, 305, respectively, and a longitudinal channel 307extending therebetween. Longitudinal channel 307 is configured toslidably receive drive bar 364. Shaft 302 may alternatively beconfigured to define a longitudinally-extending lumen for receipt ofdrive bar 364 or may include upper and lower troughs that are configuredto receive upper and lower portions of a bifurcated drive bar. Thefeatures and operation of end effector assembly 300 remain generallyconsistent regardless of the particular configuration provided. For thepurposes herein, end effector assembly 300 is described hereinbelow withrespect to shaft 302 having first and second spaced-apart shaftcomponents 303, 305, respectively, and a longitudinal channel 307extending therebetween.

With continued reference to FIGS. 8 and 9A-9B, each of the first andsecond shaft components 303, 305 includes a flange 304, 306,respectively, extending from the distal end thereof. Flanges 304, 306each define generally T-shaped configurations having opposed, transversecut-outs 304 a, 306 a, respectively, and a crossbar 304 b, 306 b,respectively. First and second shaft components 303, 305 further includeupper and lower pins 309 a, 309 b, respectively, engaged thereto andextending therebetween. Upper and lower pins 309 a, 309 b arelongitudinally aligned with one another but vertically offset relativeto one another and extend transversely through longitudinal channel 307of shaft 302 adjacent first and second flanges 304, 306 of shaft 302.Pins 309 a, 309 b, as will be described in greater detail below, areconfigured for engagement within respective upper and lower cam slots367 a, 367 b defined within drive bar 364.

Drive bar 364, as mentioned above, is slidably received withinlongitudinal channel 307 defined between shaft components 303, 305.Drive bar 364 further includes upper and lower longitudinal portions365, 366 that define mirror-image configurations of one another. Morespecifically, upper longitudinal portion 365 of drive bar 264 defines atransverse cam slot 367 a therethrough towards the distal end thereofthat includes a generally longitudinal portion 368 a and a curvedportion 369 a that curves vertically upwardly from the longitudinalportion 368 a. Lower longitudinal portion 366 of drive bar 364, on theother hand, defines a transverse cam slot 367 b therethrough towards thedistal end thereof that is a mirror-image of transverse cam slot 367 aof upper longitudinal portion 365. That is, transverse cam slot 367 b oflower longitudinal portion 366 includes a generally longitudinal portion368 b and a curved portion 369 b that curves vertically downwardly fromthe longitudinal portion 368 b. Upper and lower pins 309 a, 309 b ofshaft 302 are configured for receipt with and longitudinal translationthrough longitudinal portions 368 a, 368 b of cam slots 367 a, 367 b,respectively.

With continued reference to FIGS. 8 and 9A-9B, Jaw members 310, 320 aremovable relative to shaft 302 and one another from a spaced-apartposition to an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween(thus defining the bilateral configuration of end effector assembly300). Each jaw member 310, 320 includes a proximal flange portion 316,326, and a distal jaw portion 311, 321 that defines the respectivetissue-treating surface 312, 322 thereof. As will be described ingreater detail below, jaw members 310, 320 are configured such thattissue-treating surfaces 312, 322 remain disposed in parallelorientation relative to one another regardless of the relativepositioning of jaw members 310, 320.

The proximal flange portion 316, 326 of each jaw member 310, 320 definesa T-shaped configuration that is offset 90 degrees relative to theT-shaped flanges 304, 306 of shaft components 303, 305, respectively. Asa result of this configuration, proximal flange portions 316, 326 of jawmembers 310, 320 and flanges 304, 306 of shaft 302 are configured forinter-fit engagement with one another to restrict movement of jawmembers 310, 320 relative to one another to the vertical direction,thereby maintaining the parallel orientation of jaw members 310, 320throughout movement of jaw members 310, 320 between the spaced-apart andapproximated positions. More specifically, to inter-fit jaw members 310,320 and shaft 302 to one another, the first and second ends of crossbars317, 327 of T-shaped proximal flange portions 316, 326 of jaw members310, 320, respectively, are received within transverse cut-outs 304 a,304 b of respective flanges 304, 306 of shaft 302. Further, the firstand second ends of crossbars 304 b, 306 b of T-shaped flanges 304, 306of shaft 302 are received within transverse cut-outs 318, 328 ofproximal flange portions 316, 326 of jaw members 310, 320, respectively.Similarly as described above with respect to pillars 123 and alignmentslots 113 of jaw members 120, 110, respectively (see FIGS. 2 and 4-6),one or more of the cut-outs 304 a, 306 a, 318, 328 and/or crossbars 304b, 306 b, 317, 327 may include “keying” features to further ensureparallel movement and orientation of jaw members 310, 320 relative toone another.

Continuing with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9A-9B, crossbars 317, 327 ofproximal flange portions 316, 326 of jaw members 310, 320, respectively,each define a central recess 319 (the central recesses of crossbars 317,327 are similar to one another and are collectively designated byreference numeral 319; however, only recess 319 of proximal flangeportion 316 is shown). A second pair of pins including upper and lowerpins 319 a, 319 b, respectively, that are longitudinally aligned butvertically offset relative to one another, are fixedly engaged withinand extend transversely through the central recesses 319 of proximalflange portions 316, 326 of jaw members 310, 320, respectively. Pins 319a, 319 b are configured for engagement within respective cam slots 367a, 367 b of upper and lower longitudinal portions 365, 366 of drive bar364. More specifically, upper and lower pins 319 a, 319 b are configuredfor receipt with and translation through curved portions 369 a, 369 b ofcam slots 367 a, 367 b, respectively.

The use and operation of end effector assembly 300 for moving jawmembers 310, 320 from the spaced-apart position to the approximatedposition to grasp tissue therebetween is described with reference toFIGS. 8-9B. The full use and operation of end effector assembly 300 issimilar to that described above with respect to end effector assembly100 (FIG. 2) and, thus, similarities will only be summarily described oromitted entirely.

Initially, jaw members 310, 320 are disposed in the spaced-apartposition (FIG. 9A). In this position, first pins 309 a, 309 b aredisposed at the distal ends of longitudinal portions 368 a, 368 b of camslots 367 a, 367 b, respectively, while second pins 319 a, 319 b aredisposed at the first ends (e.g., vertically-spaced from longitudinalportions 368 a, 368 b and one another) of curved portions 369 a, 369 bof cam slots 367 a, 367 b, respectively. As such, with second pins 319a, 319 b of jaw members 310, 320, respectively, vertically-spaced fromone another, jaw members 310, 320 are likewise vertically-spaced fromone another, e.g., in the spaced-apart position. Further, in thespaced-apart position, the ends of crossbars 304 b, 306 b, 317, 327 areonly partially disposed within cut-outs 318, 328, 304 a, 306 a butsufficiently so as to maintain the parallel orientation oftissue-treating surfaces 312, 322 of jaw members 310, 320, respectively.

In order to grasp tissue between tissue-treating surfaces 312, 322 ofjaw members 310, 320, respectively, movable handle 40 (FIG. 1) iscompressed, or pulled proximally relative to fixed handle 50 (FIG. 1)from the initial position to the compressed position to urge drive bar364 distally. As drive bar 364 is translated distally throughlongitudinal channel 307 of shaft 302 relative to end effector assembly300, first pins 309 a, 309 b are moved through longitudinal portions 368a, 368 b of cam slots 367 a, 367 b from the distal ends thereof towardsthe proximal ends thereof. At the same time, second pins 319 a, 319 bare moved vertically through curved portions 369 a, 369 b of cam slots367 a, 367 b towards one another. That is, as drive bar 364 is advanceddistally, upper second pin 319 a of jaw member 310 is translatedvertically downwardly through curved portion 369 a of cam slot 367 a tomove jaw member 310 downwardly relative to shaft 302 and jaw member 320,while lower second pin 319 b of jaw member 320 is translated verticallyupwardly through curved portion 369 b of cam slot 367 b to move jawmember 320 upwardly relative to shaft 302 and jaw member 310 until jawmembers 310, 320 achieve the approximated position grasping tissuetherebetween. The inter-fitting between crossbars 304 b, 306 b, 317, 327and cut-outs 318, 328, 304 a, 306 a, as mentioned above, maintains jawmembers 310, 320 in parallel orientation relative to one another byrestricting movement of jaw members 310, 320 relative to one another tothe vertical direction.

Turning now to FIGS. 10A-12B, another embodiment of an end effectorassembly provided in accordance with the present disclosure andconfigured for use with forceps 10 (FIG. 1) is shown generallyidentified by reference numeral 400. End effector assembly 400 issimilar to end effector assembly 300 (FIGS. 8-9B) and, thus, only thedifferences between end effector assembly 400 and end effector assembly300 (FIGS. 8-9B) will be described in detail below, while similaritieswill be summarily described or omitted entirely.

Continuing with reference to FIGS. 10A-12B, shaft 402 defines alongitudinally-extending lumen 403 therethrough for slidably receivingdrive bar 464. Shaft 402 further includes a bifurcated distal endincluding first and second spaced-apart flanges 404, 406, respectively.Each flange 404, 406 defines an angled transverse cam slot 405, 407,respectively, therethrough towards the free end thereof. Cam slots 405,407 are sloped similarly relative to one another but are positioned andangled oppositely, e.g., cam slot 405 is disposed towards a lower sideof flange 404 and angles upwardly in the distal to proximal direction,while cam slot 407 is disposed towards an upper side of flange 406 andangles downwardly in the distal to proximal direction (although thisconfiguration may be reversed). As will be described below, cam slots405, 407 are configured to respectively receive first and second pins419, 429 of jaw members 410 420, respectively.

With reference to FIGS. 10A-11B in particular, drive bar 464, asmentioned above, is slidably received within lumen 403 of shaft 402.Drive bar 464 includes a distal engagement portion 465 having a neck 466and first and second laterally-extending flanges 467, 468, respectively,disposed at the free end of neck 466. The reduced width of neck 466relative to drive bar 464 and flanges 467, 468 forms a pair of cut-outs469 between flanges 467, 468 and the distal end of drive bar 464. Neck466 further includes a vertically-elongated recess 470 a, 470 b definedtherein on each lateral side thereof. Recesses 470 a, 470 b areconfigured to respectively slidably receive pins 419, 429 of jaw members410, 420. Further, as best shown in FIG. 11B, first flange 467 extendslaterally from a lower portion of neck 466 in a first direction, whilesecond flange 468 extends laterally from an upper portion of neck 466 ina second, opposite direction.

Referring again to FIGS. 10A-12B, jaw members 410, 420 are each movablerelative to shaft 402 and one another from a spaced-apart position to anapproximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. Jaw members 410,420 are similar to one another with each defining a proximal flangeportion 416, 426 and a distal jaw portion 411, 421 that defines therespective tissue-treating surface 412, 422 thereof. End effectorassembly 400 is configured such that tissue-treating surfaces 412, 422of jaw members 410, 420, respectively, remain disposed in parallelorientation relative to one another regardless of the relativepositioning of jaw members 410, 420.

As best shown in FIGS. 12A-12B, proximal flange portions 416, 426 of jawmembers 410, 420 each define a proximally-extending portion 417, 427 andan upright portion 418, 428 that defines an aperture 415, 425 configuredto receive the respective pin 419, 429 therethrough. Proximal flangeportions 416, 426 are offset on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis ofend effector assembly 400 and are configured for inter-fit engagementwith distal portion 465 of drive bar 464 (see FIGS. 11A-11B). Morespecifically, with additional reference to FIGS. 10A-11B, uprightportions 418, 428 of proximal flanges 416, 426 are configured forreceipt within cut-outs 469 defined within distal engagement portion 465of drive bar 464 such that vertically-elongated recesses 470 a, 470 bare longitudinally aligned with apertures 415, 425, respectively, whileflanges 467, 468 of distal engagement portion 465 of drive bar 464 aredisposed adjacent proximally-extending portions 417, 427 of jaw members410, 420 between the upright portions 418, 428 of the respective jawmember 410, 420 and the distal jaw portion 421, 411 of the other jawmember 420, 410. This inter-fit engagement between drive bar 464 and jawmembers 410, 420 maintains the parallel orientation of jaw members 410,420 relative to one another by restricting movement of jaw members 410,420 relative to one another to the vertical direction, similarly asdescribed above. Further, as also described above, proximal flangeportions 416, 426 of jaw members 410, 420, respectively, and/or distalengagement portion 465 of drive bar 464 may include additional featuresto establish a “keyed” relationship therebetween.

First and second pins 419, 429 of jaw members 410, 420, respectively,are configured for engagement within respective cam slots 405, 407 offlanges 404, 406 of shaft 402, respective apertures 415, 425 of jawmembers 410, 410, and respective vertically-elongated recesses 470 a,470 b of neck 466 of drive bar 464. As a result of this configuration,longitudinal translation of drive bar 464 urges pins 419, 429 totranslate along cam slots 405, 407 which, in turn, urge pins 419, 429 totranslate vertically within vertically-elongated recesses 470 a, 470 bof neck 466 of drive bar 464 such that jaw members 410, 420 are movedrelative to one another between the spaced-apart position and theapproximated position while maintaining the parallel orientation betweentissue-treating surfaces 412, 422 of jaw members 410, 420, respectively.More specifically, the inter-fit engagement between proximal flangeportions 416, 426 of jaw members 410, 420, respectively, and distalengagement portion 465 of drive bar 464 maintains the parallelorientation of jaw members 410, 420 relative to one another byrestricting movement of jaw members 410, 420 relative to one another tothe vertical direction. The use and operation of end effector assembly400 is similar to that described above with respect to the previousembodiments and, thus, will not be repeated here to avoid unnecessaryrepetition.

With reference to FIGS. 13-15, another embodiment of an end effectorassembly provided in accordance with the present disclosure andconfigured for use with forceps 10 (FIG. 1) is shown generallyidentified by reference numeral 500. End effector assembly 500 issimilar to end effector assembly 400 (FIGS. 10A-12B) and, thus, only thedifferences therebetween will be described in detail hereinbelow forpurposes of brevity. In particular, end effector assembly 500 differsfrom end effector assembly 400 (FIGS. 10A-12B) mainly in that thecomponents of end effector assembly 500 define angled configurations,rather than vertical configurations such that, while jaw members 510,520 remain disposed in parallel orientation relative to one anotherthroughout movement of jaw members 510, 520 between the spaced-apart andapproximated positions, jaw members 510, 520 are also movedlongitudinally relative to shaft 502 as jaw members jaw members 510, 520are moved between the spaced-apart and approximated positions.

Continuing with reference to FIGS. 13-15, shaft 502 is configured toslidably receive drive bar 564 and includes a bifurcated distal endhaving first and second spaced-apart flanges 504, 506 extending distallytherefrom. Flanges 504, 506 each define an angled transverse cam slot505 (only the cam slot 505 of flange 504 is shown). The cam slots 505are sloped similarly relative to one another but are positioned andangled oppositely, similarly as described above with respect to shaft402 and end effector assembly 400 (FIGS. 10A-12B). Cam slots 505 areconfigured to receive first and second pins 519 of jaw members 510, 520(only pin 519 of jaw member 510 is shown).

Drive bar 564, as mentioned above, is slidably received within shaft502. Drive bar 564 includes a distal engagement portion 565 definingfirst and second cut-outs 566, 568 (FIGS. 14A, 14B, respectively) onopposite sides of drive bar 564. Each cut-out 566, 568 includes alongitudinal portion 566 a, 568 a and an angled portion 566 b, 568 b,respectively. Longitudinal portion 566 a of cut-out 566 extends along anupper portion of drive bar 564, while longitudinal portion 568 a ofcut-out 568 extends along a lower portion of drive bar 564. Angledportions 566 b, 568 b are angled similar in slope but opposite indirection relative to one another. Further, an angled elongated recess567, 569 is defined within drive bar 564 adjacent angled portions 566 b,568 b of respective cut-outs 566, 568. Recesses 567, 569 are angledsimilarly to their respective cut-outs 566, 568 and, thus, oppositelyrelative to one another. Recesses 567, 569 are configured torespectively receive the first and second pins 519 of jaw members 510,520.

Referring still to FIGS. 13-15, jaw members 510, 520 are each movablerelative to shaft 502 in a diagonal direction including both verticaland longitudinal directional components and relative to one another in avertical direction only between a spaced-apart position and anapproximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. End effectorassembly 500 is configured such that tissue-treating surfaces 512, 522of jaw members 510, 520, respectively, remain disposed in parallelorientation relative to one another regardless of the relativepositioning of jaw members 510, 520. Jaw member 510 includes a proximalflange portion 516 and a distal jaw portion 511 that defines thetissue-treating surface 512 of jaw member 510. Jaw member 520 likewiseincludes a proximal flange portion 526 and a distal jaw portion 521 thatdefines the tissue-treating surface 522 of jaw member 520. In fact, jawmembers 510, 520 are similar to one another and, thus, only jaw member510 will be described hereinbelow, keeping in mind that jaw member 520includes similar features and functions similarly.

Jaw member 510, as mentioned above, includes a distal jaw portion 511and a proximal flange portion 516. Proximal flange portion 516 definesan angled configuration that slopes similarly to angled portion 566 b ofcut-out 566 defined within drive bar 564. Proximal flange portion 516further defines an aperture 515 therethrough that is configured toreceive pin 519. That is, pin 519 is configured for engagement withincam slot 505 of flange 504 of shaft 502, aperture 515 of proximal flangeportion 516 of jaw member 510, and angled recess 567 of drive bar 564.The pin (not explicitly shown) of jaw member 520 is similarly configuredfor engagement within the cam slot (not explicitly shown) of flange 506of shaft 502, the aperture (not explicitly shown) defined within theproximal flange portion 526 of jaw member 520, and angled recess 569 ofdrive bar 564. Further, proximal flange portions 516, 526 of jaw members510, 520, respectively, are configured for inter-fit engagement withdrive bar 564 similarly as described above with respect to the previousembodiments, except that, due to the angled configuration of angledportions 566 b, 568 b of cut-outs 566, 568 and angled proximal flangeportions 516, 526 of jaw members 510, 520, respectively, movement of jawmembers 510, 520 is restricted to diagonal movement along thesimilarly-sloped angled portions 566 b, 568 b of cut-outs 566, 568defined within drive bar 564. However, since angled portions 566 b, 568b of cut-outs 566, 568 are similarly-sloped relative to one another (inopposite directions), tissue-treating surfaces 512, 522 of jaw members510, 520, respectively, are maintained in parallel orientation relativeto one another regardless of the position of jaw members 510, 520relative to one another, e.g., the spaced-apart position, theapproximated position, or any position therebetween.

With continued reference to FIGS. 13-15, in use, longitudinaltranslation of drive bar 564 urges pin 519 of jaw member 510 totranslate along cam slot 505 of flange 504 of shaft 502 which, in turn,urges pin 519 to translate along angled recess 567 of drive bar 564 suchthat proximal flange portion 516 of jaw member 510 is moved along angledportion 566 b of cut-out 566 of drive bar 564. At the same time, thelongitudinal translation of drive bar 564 urges the pin (not explicitlyshown) of jaw member 520 to translate along the cam slot (not explicitlyshown) of flange 506 of shaft 502 which, in turn, urges the pin (notexplicitly shown) to translate along angled recess 569 of drive bar 564such that proximal flange portion 526 of jaw member 520 is moved alongangled portion 568 b of cut-out 568 of drive bar 564 in an oppositevertical direction but similar longitudinal direction as jaw member 520.More specifically, distal translation of drive bar 564 effects movementof jaw members 510, 520 vertically towards one another, e.g., towardsthe approximated position, while simultaneously advancing jaw members510, 520 in concert distally relative to shaft 502. Proximal translationof drive bar 564, on the other hand, effects movement of jaw members510, 520 vertically apart from one another, e.g., towards thespaced-apart position, while simultaneously retracting jaw members 510,520 in concert proximally relative to shaft 502. As mentioned above, dueto the configuration of shaft 502, drive bar 564, and jaw members 510,520, and due to the inter-fit engagement between proximal flangeportions 516, 526 of jaw members 510, 520, respectively, and drive bar564, tissue-treating surfaces 512, 522 of jaw members 510, 520,respectively, are maintained in parallel orientation relative to oneanother. The use and operation of end effector assembly 500 is otherwisesimilar to that described above with respect to the previousembodiments.

Turning to FIGS. 1, 3, and 16-17B, as mentioned above, forceps 10 mayincorporate a knife assembly 180 for cutting tissue grasped between jawmembers 110, 120. Knife assembly 180 may be provided for use with any ofthe end effector assemblies provided herein, or any other suitable endeffector assembly. For the purposes herein, knife assembly 180 isdescribed with reference to forceps 10 and end effector assembly 100.

Knife assembly 180 includes a knife bar 182 that is coupled to triggerassembly 80 via ferrule 89 at the proximal end thereof and to knife 184at the distal end thereof. Knife bar 182 defines a transverse cam slot187 therethrough towards distal end 186 thereof. Cam slot 187 defines agenerally longitudinal portion 188 having proximal and distal ends 188a, 188 b, respectively, and a curved portion 189 that curves verticallyupwardly from the longitudinal portion 188. Curved portion 189 includesa first (lower, proximal) end 189 a and second (upper, distal) end 189b. Cam slot 187 is configured to first and second pins 190, 192 withinrespect longitudinal and curved portions 188, 189, respectively,thereof.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 6-17B, knife 184, asmentioned above, is disposed within knife channel 125 defined within jawmember 120 (although knife 184 may alternatively be disposed withinknife channel 115 of jaw member 110) and is configured, upon actuationof trigger 82 of trigger assembly 80, to move from the retractedposition, wherein knife 184 is disposed completely within knife channel125 of jaw member 120, to the extended position, wherein knife 184extends from knife channel 125, between jaw members 110, 120, and atleast partially into knife channel 115 of jaw member 110, to cut tissuegrasped between jaw members 110, 120.

First pin 190 is fixedly engaged within jaw member 120 and extendstransversely through knife channel 125 of jaw member 120. Although firstpin 190 is shown disposed at a proximal end of knife 184, first pin 190may alternatively be centrally disposed, or may be disposed at a distalend of knife 184. As mentioned above, first pin 190 is configured to beslidably disposed within longitudinal portion 188 of cam slot 187.Second pin 192 is fixedly engaged to and is disposed transverselyrelative to knife 184. As mentioned above, second pin 192 is configuredto be slidably disposed within curved portion 189 of calm slot 187. Thisconfiguration, wherein first pin 190 of jaw member 120 is slidablydisposed within longitudinal portion 188 of cam slot 187 and second pin192 of knife 184 is slidably disposed within curved portion 189 of camslot 187, allows knife 184 to be vertically translated relative to jawmembers 110, 120 between the retracted and extended positions to cuttissue grasped therebetween upon longitudinal translation of knife bar182, as will be described in greater detail below.

The use and operation of knife assembly 180 in conjunction with forceps10 and end effector assembly 100 for cutting tissue grasped between jawmembers 110, 120 is described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 16-17B.After tissue treatment (or after moving jaw members 110, 120 to theapproximated position to grasp tissue therebetween in procedures wheretissue treatment is not required) jaw members 110, 120 are disposed inthe approximated position and knife 184 is disposed in the retractedposition (FIG. 17A). At this point, trigger 82 is disposed in theun-actuated position and, accordingly, knife bar 182 is disposed in amore-distal position such that knife 184 is disposed in the retractedposition. More specifically, in the retracted position, as best shown inFIG. 17A, first pin 190 is disposed at proximal end 188 a oflongitudinal portion 188 of cam slot 187 of knife bar 182, while secondpin 192 is disposed at first (lower, proximal) end 189 a of curvedportion 189 of cam slot 187. In this position, wherein first and secondpins 190, 192 are longitudinally-aligned with one another, knife 184 isdisposed within knife channel 125 in the retracted position.

In order to move knife 184 to the extended position to cut tissuegrasped between tissue-treating surfaces 112, 122 of jaw members 110,120, respectively, trigger 82 of trigger assembly 80 is actuated fromthe un-actuated position to the actuated position to urge knife bar 182proximally relative to end effector assembly 100. As knife bar 184 istranslated proximally, first pin 190 is moved through longitudinalportion 188 of cam slot 187 from the proximal end 188 a thereof towardsthe distal end 188 b thereof, while second pin 192 is moved throughcurved portion 189 of cam slot 187 from the first (lower, proximal) end189 a thereof towards the second (upper, distal) end 189 b thereof. Assecond pin 192 is urged vertically upwardly due to the vertically-curvedconfiguration of curved portion 189 of cam slot 187 and the proximaltranslation of knife bar 182 relative to second pin 192, knife 184 ismoved vertically upwardly to extend from jaw member 120 to the extendedposition to cut tissue grasped between jaw members 110, 120. That is, inthe extended position, as best shown in FIG. 17B, first pin 190 isdisposed at distal end 188 b of longitudinal portion 188 of cam slot187, while second pin 192 is disposed at second (upper, distal) end 189b of curved portion 189 of cam slot 187.

Once tissue has been cut, knife 184 may be returned to the retractedposition and jaw members 110, 120 may be returned to the spaced-apartposition to release the treated and/or divided tissue. Morespecifically, in order to return knife 184 to the retracted position,trigger 82 is released (or returned) to the un-actuated position,thereby translating knife bar 182 distally to return knife 184 to theretracted position.

From the foregoing and with reference to the various figure drawings,those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain modifications canalso be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scopeof the same. While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shownin the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limitedthereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope asthe art will allow and that the specification be read likewise.Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting,but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilledin the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spiritof the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A forceps, comprising: an end effector assemblyincluding first and second jaw members disposed in parallel orientationrelative to one another, at least one of the jaw members movable along afirst axis relative to the other jaw member between a spaced-apartposition and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween,the first and second jaw members configured to maintain the parallelorientation therebetween upon movement of the jaw members between thespaced-apart and approximated positions; and a drive bar coupled to theat least one jaw member, the drive bar selectively movable along asecond axis that is different from the first axis between first andsecond positions for moving the jaw members between the spaced-apart andapproximated positions.
 2. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein thefirst and second axes are perpendicular to one another.
 3. The forcepsaccording to claim 1, wherein the first and second jaw members arecoupled to an outer shaft and wherein the drive bar is selectivelymovable along the second axis relative to the outer shaft.
 4. Theforceps according to claim 3, wherein the drive bar defines at least onecam slot, a first portion of the cam slot defining a longitudinalconfiguration and a second portion of the cam slot extending in agenerally diagonal direction relative to the first portion, the firstportion of the cam slot configured to slidably receive a pin of theouter shaft and the second portion of the cam slot configured toslidably receive a pin of the at least one jaw member such thattranslation of the drive bar along the second axis effects movement ofthe at least one jaw member along the first axis.
 5. The forcepsaccording to claim 3, wherein the at least one jaw member is configuredfor slidable inter-fit engagement with the outer shaft to restrictmovement of the jaw members to along the first axis, thereby maintainingthe parallel orientation between the jaw members upon movement of thejaw members between the spaced-apart and approximated positions.
 6. Theforceps according to claim 5, wherein the outer shaft and the at leastone jaw member each include a T-shaped flange, the T-shaped flangesconfigured for slidable inter-fit engagement with one another.
 7. Theforceps according to claim 1, wherein the first and second jaw membersare configured for slidable inter-fit engagement with one another torestrict movement of the jaw members to along the first axis, therebymaintaining the parallel orientation between the jaw members uponmovement of the jaw members between the spaced-apart and approximatedpositions.
 8. The forceps according to claim 7, wherein at least one ofthe jaw members includes an alignment pillar and wherein at least one ofthe jaw members includes an alignment slot, the alignment pillars andalignment slots slidably inter-fit with one another to inhibit relativemovement of the jaw members off of the first axis.
 9. The forcepsaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one jaw member is configuredfor slidable inter-fit engagement with the drive bar to restrictmovement of the at least one jaw member to along the first axis, therebymaintaining the parallel orientation between the jaw members uponmovement of the jaw members between the spaced-apart and approximatedpositions.
 10. The forceps according to claim 9, wherein the first andsecond jaw members are slidable diagonally along the first axis andwherein the drive bar is selectively translatable longitudinally alongthe second axis.
 11. A forceps, comprising: an end effector assemblyincluding first and second jaw members disposed in parallel orientationrelative to one another, at least one of the jaw members movablerelative to the other along a first axis between a spaced-apart positionand an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween, the firstand second jaw members disposed in slidable inter-fit engagement withone another to maintain the parallel orientation between the jaw membersupon movement of the jaw members between the spaced-apart andapproximated positions.
 12. The forceps according to claim 11, whereinat least one of the jaw members includes an alignment pillar and whereinat least one of the jaw members includes an alignment slot, thealignment pillar and alignment slot slidably inter-fit with one anotherto inhibit relative movement of the jaw members off of the first axis.13. The forceps according to claim 12, wherein the alignment pillar andthe alignment slot define complementary keying features.
 14. The forcepsaccording to claim 11, further comprising a drive bar coupled to the atleast one jaw member, the drive bar selectively movable along a secondaxis different from the first axis for moving the jaw members betweenthe spaced-apart and approximated positions.
 15. The forceps accordingto claim 14, wherein the first and second axes are perpendicular to oneanother.
 16. A forceps, comprising: an end effector assembly includingfirst and second jaw members disposed in parallel orientation relativeto one another, at least one of the jaw members movable along a firstaxis relative to the other jaw member between a spaced-apart positionand an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween; and adrive bar coupled to the at least one jaw member, the drive barselectively movable along a second axis different from the first axisbetween first and second positions for moving the jaw members betweenthe spaced-apart and approximated positions, the drive bar and at leastone jaw member disposed in inter-fit engagement with one another tomaintain the parallel orientation between the jaw members upon movementof the jaw members between the spaced-apart and approximated positions.17. The forceps according to claim 16, wherein the drive bar includes adistal engagement portion including at least one cut-out and wherein theat least one jaw member includes a proximal flange portion, the proximalflange portion of the at least one jaw member configured for slidableinter-fit engagement with the at least one cut-out of the distalengagement portion of the drive bar to maintain the parallel orientationbetween the jaw members upon movement of the jaw members between thespaced-apart and approximated positions.
 18. The forceps according toclaim 16, wherein the proximal flange portion of the at least one jawmember is slidable relative to the at least one cut-out of the distalengagement portion of the drive bar along one of the first axis and athird axis that is diagonal to both the first and second axes.
 19. Theforceps according to claim 16, wherein the first and second jaw membersare coupled to an outer shaft and wherein the drive bar is selectivelymovable relative to the outer shaft along the second axis.
 20. Theforceps according to claim 19, wherein the outer shaft defines at leastone cam slot, the cam slot configured to slidably receive a pin of theat least one jaw member such that translation of the drive bar along thesecond axis effects movement of the at least one jaw member along thefirst axis.